The Merry Widow

2017Arts Centre Melbourne, State Theatre

NEW PRODUCTION

The Merry Widow is a delicious confection: a light-hearted look
at love amid the champagne and glitter of Art Deco France. Ladies sweep into ballrooms
in silk fishtail gowns, and dapper gents in suits and patent leather shoes kiss your
hand and fill up your dance card.

Melbourne-born international star Danielle de Niese plays the beguiling widow,
inadvertent heiress of a city's fortune after just eight days of marriage. Fearing
the loss of their riches, the society set are determined that she must wed a local,
and soon, before any foreigner catches her gaze. But she's got a history with
the man they've got in mind, and to complicate matters, the widow isn't the
only one turning heads. There's plenty of love to go around in this story of amorous
encounters and elegant romance.

Graeme Murphy brings his spirited choreography and direction to Lehár's
charming operetta in a brand new production.

Let's waltz, let's sway the night away.

It's time for a little romance.

There's a fortune at stake — which match will she make?

She'll lead you in a merry old dance.

Enjoy dinner before the opera at Arts Centre Melbourne

Allow us to make your dinner
reservation for you: 6pm at Café Vic. You'll be served a themed three-course
menu for just $75, including matched wine. View
the menu.

Act I

The Pontevedrian embassy, Paris.The Balkan state of Pontevedro is facing
financial ruin. Its best hope is that Hanna Glavari, a young rich widow, should marry
a Pontevedrian and keep her fortune in Pontevedro, rather than risk marrying a Parisian
and losing the money to France. The Pontevedrian Embassy holds a state ball to which
Hanna and her former lover, Danilo Danilovich are invited. Before her marriage into
wealth, Hanna was a poor farm girl whom Danilo’s uncle forbade him to marry.
Now the pressure is on to reunite them in marriage. But as Danilo loved the poor farm
girl, can he love the wealthy widow?

Act II

Hanna’s home in Paris, the next day. Hanna holds a Pontevedrian
party. Valencienne, the young wife of the Pontevedrian ambassador, Baron Zeta, continues
a fragile romance with a young Frenchman, Camille, who has written a dangerous confession
of love on her fan. The intrigue deepens when Hanna and Camille are discovered in
the summer house and the hope of her reunion with Danilo appears doomed.

Act III

Maxim’s Nightclub, later the same evening. Hanna has reserved the
popular nightspot, where she sparks Danilo’s anger by her coquettish antics
with the grisettes. The various love intrigues are resolved by vital discoveries about
Valencienne’s fan - and the will of Hanna’s late husband!